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Camino reflections

Over the weekend of the 1–4 May 2025 about 25 Pilgrims came together to walk from Traralgon to Stratford along the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail as the Gippsland Camino 2025. A special aspect to this Pilgrimage was that we had asked all the churches along the way to open their doors to the Pilgrims, for prayer rest and water. They did this with much delight!

The nature of a Camino journey is always so individual. Each person brings their full self to the way, and the physi-
cal practice of walking until exhaustion means that much of your daily trappings are stripped away. I chose to camp in church grounds for the same reason, I wanted the challenge of moving into places of discomfort (it was cold and there were no showers) in order to bring forward that which was most important to me.

I am also someone who prefers to walk on my own, as I am very comfortable talking in all places and spaces, and the discipline of staying in a silent space is very powerful for me. However, the gatherings together with other pilgrims and support workers over an evening meal was an absolute delight as we compared photos, stories and the state of our feet and stiffness of our legs!

This is the third time I have done a Pilgrimage, and as on previous walks, I got to know my body better than I did before and as usual was astounded by its capacity to respond to the physical challenge. I also now know not to come with any agendas to the walk, but to let God speak the path for me. This time around, my insight was to set those things aside that I was so deeply invested in, that I could not make space for other things.

So many things happened in this process that delighted me again, especially the care, generosity and enthusiasm that people can bring to you when you are truly authentic with them. I was cared for, prayed for, fed and watered and in one final grand gesture had my sore, dusty and smelly feet bathed, anointed and dried at the end of the walk. Instead of embarrassment I experienced absolute blessed relief from this experience.

I would like to thank all those who planned, supported and contributed to the Gippsland Camino 2025. Every moment of this journey seemed to be a holy moment, where God, who can make the impossible possible, granted small and wise encounters along the way. What a blessing. Buen Camino.

The Rev’d Heather den Houting is the Minister at Traralgon Uniting Church.

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Dr Ian Weeks

Ian Weeks
Ian Weeks was born in Azamgarth, UP, India. He taught Religious Studies, Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion at the University of Melbourne, Yale University (USA), McMaster University (Canada), and Deakin University. He has had a research interest in Jewish and Islamic mysticism. He has published widely in journals, given lectures on Radio National and acted as a judge in the Blake Prize for Religious Art.

Ian also had a long history of contributing to Ecumenical committees across the UCA Synod of VicTas. He passed away last week,

A Memorial Service will be held at Wesley Uniting Church,
100 Yarra Street, Geelong on Friday 27th June at 11.30am.

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A call for peace in Israel and Gaza

RELIGIONS for PEACE AUSTRALIA

A CALL FOR PEACE IN ISRAEL AND GAZA

The situation in Gaza continues to grow more desperate and dangerous by the day. It is incumbent on us as leaders of Religions for Peace Australia not to remain silent. The devastating restriction of access to essential resources such as medical care, food and water are inhumane. The violence must end.

The attacks on Israeli and Palestinian civilians have been horrific. The acts of murder, rape, capturing and maltreating civilians as hostages, targeting residential areas, hospitals and restricting access to essential resources such as medical care, food and water are fundamentally inhumane. As both Israelis and Palestinians each grieve the loss of thousands of innocent lives, especially those of women and children, we have a deep concern that famine will take the focus of this conflict.

We are reminded that the prioritization of political and military interests, especially in Gaza and the West Bank, is wholly unacceptable and that combat forces have the obligation to avoid civilian casualties in armed conflict. Religions for Peace Australia decries the violence and heinous acts of this humanitarian crisis, especially in Gaza. We stand in solidarity with all victims, who are paying the highest price. The violence must end.

Religions for Peace Australia makes this fervent plea to all parties involved in this conflict to take strong principled action to negotiate a lasting peace and to actively uphold the safeguarding of non-combatants, a mandate enshrined in international law and deeply rooted in the many faith doctrines in multifaith Australia and across the world.

In the spirit of faith, we urgently beseech all political and faith leaders to take strong measures to end the violence and to take essential steps in a process toward lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians in a land that is holy for many world religions. We call for:

  1. An immediate and unconditional ceasefire and a guarantee of the safety of displaced individuals and humanitarian service providers
  2. An end to the blockade of Gaza to enable the efficient and safe provision of humanitarian relief including medical care, food and water
  3. The release of all hostages, in line with humanitarian and human rights law, and the end of any form of collective punishment
  4. Coordinated international peacekeeping efforts setting a new path towards lasting peace, including a renewal of talks for a viable two-state solution that will lead to healing for Israeli and Palestinian peoples, and the Middle East

Religions for Peace Australia, together with the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace and Religions for Peace International, commit to prayerful and practical action for the safety and well-being of all. Together, let us be harbingers of peace, unity and hope, and for reconciliation and healing in the region. Together let us serve as people of conscience and as champions of human rights, dignity and freedom.

Philippa Rowland & Sandy Boyce
Co-Chairs: Religions for Peace Australia 14 June 2025

Document Control: Issue 1, 14 June 2025.
For further information, contact the Secretary, Dr Susan Ennis, 0400 069 014

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NCCA – Statement on Gaza June 2025

12 June 2025

‘Even the stones cry out’ for Palestine and Israel

Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’ As he came near and saw the city [of Jerusalem], he wept over it saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognised on this day the things that make for peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes.’ (Luke 19:40-43, NRSVA)

As Christians around the world celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, we hear again the call to envisage a world that deeply honours every member of the human family and God’s creation. The coming of the Holy Spirit proclaims a vision of unity that does not erase our differences or force uniformity. Instead, cultural and linguistic diversity is witnessed and affirmed, and we discover a family resemblance not based on colour, language, ethnicity or race.

In sharing this Pentecost dream of a renewed world, our hearts at this time are heavy as we name the tremendous suffering of our world that is caused when we fail to see the image of God in one another.

We restate our commitment to care for the most marginalised and vulnerable, working for a more just world, sharing resources as our Christian faith holds us to a vision of God’s love that includes all people.

Where there are places of conflict and disaster, the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) provides aid and support through our international aid agency, Act for Peace.

In Gaza the situation is more desperate and dangerous by the day. Act for Peace is working with partners on the ground to provide primary health care for women and children, medical care for those injured from shrapnel and by sustained bombardment of schools and hospitals, endure lack of shelter, food, clean water and face infection and malnourishment as every day goes by without humanitarian assistance.

Mr Archie Law AM, Interim CEO Act for Peace:

“The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza demands immediate action from world leaders. There must be an immediate ceasefire and an end to the killing. Humanitarian agencies must be guaranteed full, safe, and unrestricted access to reach civilians who are in desperate need of food, water, shelter and medical assistance. “

Katie Roxburgh, Programme Officer, Israel & the occupied Palestinian territory at Christian Aid (CAID), about the humanitarian programme being run in Gaza with the support of Act for Peace and NCCA:

“Christian Aid’s local partners in Gaza are deeply rooted in their communities and have been the first responders to this humanitarian crisis and continue to provide lifesaving assistance to communities in need. Our partners have shown incredible strength in what is a horrendous situation on the ground. They are using what is available to them, including local farmers producing fruit and vegetables to distribute to the most vulnerable, rehabilitating destroyed wells for water supply and setting up makeshift classrooms in shelters for children’s education.”

Rev John Gilmore, President of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA):

We support the statement of the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee on 15 May 2025 that condemns the atrocities being perpetrated in Gaza by the State of Israel, recognizing that the current government is pursuing policies that are not supported by many Israelis.

We cannot sit by any longer. Churches in Australia and the world cannot remain silent in the face of such appalling inhumanity. Together with the WCC executive committee, we call urgently for:

  • An immediate and unconditional ceasefire;
  • An end to the blockade of Gaza, and to all forms of collective punishment of the population of the territory;
  • Immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need in Gaza; and
  • Coordinated international action to halt the destruction, to provide sufficient humanitarian assistance commensurate with the scale of the need as assessed by the United Nations and independent humanitarian agencies, and to bring perpetrators of crimes under international law to justice.

Beyond Gaza, we are concerned that the policies and actions of the Israeli authorities are posing increasingly grave threats to the Palestinian communities of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, including for the churches and Christian communities of the region. We appeal for equal justice and rights for all people, in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem and throughout the region.

We thank our Australian Government for joining with Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom in committing to sanctions against Israeli Government Ministers. 

With the Patriarchs and heads of churches of the Holy Land we are compelled to speak out against the grave threat of mass displacement. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow over the suffering being endured in the land where Jesus walked.

The Pentecost vision is of a world renewed where all of God’s children are valued, protected, safe and given the opportunity to flourish.

END
Contact: NCCA Secretariat, secretariat@ncca.org.au  Tel. 02 9299 2215

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Justice Matters Camp (Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst)

Justice Matters Camp ignites Young Hearts and Minds
(originally published in Sandpiper e-news, 13 June 2025)

An energetic group of 80 students and teachers from ten Sandhurst Catholic secondary colleges gathered in Beechworth last week for the 22nd annual Justice Matters Camp, a fast-paced, 24-hour experience designed to awaken, equip and empower young leaders for justice.

Coordinated by Catholic Education Sandhurst (CESL) in partnership with Caritas Australia and schools, the camp invited students to explore complex social justice issues through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

Now more than ever, students, teachers and schools are becoming increasingly engaged, global citizens through robust global education curriculum in schools. The camp aims to empower students to make a difference in their communities and the world.

Kylie Smith, CESL’s Source of Life Curriculum Learning Leader and camp organiser, said the goal was for students to see that justice begins at home. “We want students to know they can be socially conscious people and justice leaders in their own lives, in their own communities,” she said.

After some spirited icebreakers, students dived into a series of elective workshops on topics ranging from First Nations’ justice, refugee support, human trafficking and modern-day slavery, environmental stewardship, and sustainable eating. Kylie’s own workshop on ecological spirituality ended with a tactile meditation using gum nuts and banksia pods. “For many, it was the first time they’d ever touched a banksia pod,” she said. “We invited students to take home the seeds that fell from the banskia pods and plant them in their gardens or in pots as a small but powerful act of hope.”

In a standout experience, students took part in Caritas’ Global Reality Meal, where food was unevenly distributed to simulate global inequality: 20% received a feast, others had a basic meal, and the rest received plain rice. “It wasn’t fair – and that was exactly the point,” said one student. The experience brought home the reality of global food injustice and lit a fire for action.

The day concluded with a quiet and deeply moving Compline Prayer and Meditation and Ignatian Examen led by Kylie. “It’s a time to pause, reflect, and ask: How did I grow today? When did God feel closest?” she said. “It was a beautiful moment of calm after such a full day.”

Day two turned reflection into action. Students explored how to move from charity to justice – beyond awareness to meaningful change – and each school developed a plan to bring the Caritas Turn Debt into Hope campaign to life back home.

The final liturgy sent everyone out with a mission: to be the spark that ignites the flame of justice in their communities.

As Sandhurst Social Justice and Caritas Coordinator, Kerry Stone put it, “It was a joy to work with so many passionate young people. They left fired up, ready to make a difference.”

 

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Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country

The failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum has led to concerns about a setback in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander progress towards reconciliation and self-determination. The result has contributed to withdrawal of bipartisan support for Treaty and Truth processes across the country, the Federal Government reneging on major reforms like Makarrata, as well as increased racism in health settings, and resistance and backtracking on critical initiatives like Closing the Gap.

The strong “No” vote has led to concerns that the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians may have taken a step backward and given ‘permission’ to push back on a wider range of issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. All the more reason for a renewed focus on truth, justice, and healing in the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. 

A number of issues emerged over the ANZAC 2025 weekend that shone a spotlight on these concerns.

Melbourne Storm cancelled a welcome to country at its Anzac Day NRL match, leaving Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, an Aboriginal elder, “broken-hearted”. Auntie Joy said, “We want to rebuild our relationship. We want to make them [realise] that this was wrong, hurtful, deceitful and tokenistic.”

The cancellation came after several people interrupted the Welcome to Country at a Melbourne dawn service when Bunurong elder Mark Brown began his Welcome to Country. Their booing was drowned out by the rest of the crowd, who cheered in protest against the disruption. (Statement from Bunurong Senior Elder Uncle Mark Brown in response to the booing during his Welcome To Country at the ANZAC Day Service here).

At the MCG later in the day, there was then warm applause before and after Wurundjeri man Uncle Colin Hunter junior gave the Welcome to Country.

Noting on ANZAC Day that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have served in every major war involving Australia, from the Boer War to Afghanistan. They have served in the ground, air, sea, and on horseback. Despite restrictions and discrimination, thousands have enlisted and served. Regrettably, there has been a historical erasure of the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service people in mainstream media.

Some politicians (and others in the community) suggest the Welcome to Country/Acknowledgement of Country is overdone. There is pushback to having the Acknowledgement of Country at the start of meetings and church services. There are political aspirants who say they don’t need to be welcomed to their own country.

As an important side note, Anglican Canon Glenn Loughrey has said that the acknowledgement of country is important but only needs to be done once at a meeting or event, not by every speaker.

It is disappointing to hear in the political debates leading up to the election that there is a conflation of the Referendum ‘no’ on the Voice with other aspects that have not been tested (Truth, Treaty), and a preparedness to abandon all aspects of the Uluru statement. Truth and Treaty are core to the ongoing Yoorrook Commission in Victoria, which will hand down its report in June. 

Read the latest feature blog in the ANTaR Federal Election 2025 series by Bridget Cama, Co-Chair, Uluru Youth Dialogue:

“If politicians and their parties are serious about closing the gap and addressing the ‘devastating’ statistics, they should reconsider their position in relation to structural reform, a Voice and more broadly, the Uluru Statement from the Heart reforms. Without this, they remain without a real vision for the way forward…

“More of the same isn’t going to work. The status quo is terrifying for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Our futures are on the line.”

Read the blog in full👉🏿 antar.org.au/blog

How will we navigate this going forward, Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together?

 

 

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ANZAC DAY 2025

Message of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia for ANZAC Day

As we journey through a turbulent period, in which our world faces a multitude of challenges and uncertainties, today offers us a valuable opportunity to pause and reflect on the greatness of history that is shaped by courageous and virtuous souls, by those who fight for justice and human dignity rather than seeking the comfort of silence and inaction.

Indeed, such greatness is embodied by the men and women of the ANZACs, who were not merely members of a military force. They were individuals devoted to high ideals, for which they fought with a spirit of self-sacrifice, thousands of kilometres away from their homeland and their families.

As Greeks, we have no excuse to ignore or forget their glorious path, for it is closely intertwined with the recent history of our beloved homeland. From Lemnos to Crete, from the Peloponnese to Macedonia, and beyond, the blood of Australian and New Zealand soldiers mingled with that of our ancestors in common sacrifices for the defence of universal ideals.

Especially for those of us who trace our roots to the great island of Crete, the memory of the ANZACs is sacred. In May 1941, when our island faced the invasion of Nazi Germany, the heroic ANZACs fought valiantly alongside our grandparents—not only for Crete, but for everything that Freedom represents.

We therefore owe them our boundless gratitude, and the least we can do is keep their memory alive, passing their precious legacy on to future generations.

Today, as we bow with reverence before their memory, let us promise that we will not remain merely in words but that we will have as our guiding compass the values they fought for; that we will not remain silent in the face of injustice; that we will not hesitate to defend the weak. And finally, that we will never allow the ANZACs to be forgotten. For the memory of heroes is not just a piece of history; it’s a light that leads us towards the right direction for the future.

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Feast of the Three Hierarchs

The Feast of the Three Hierarchs, held on January 30th, is a significant day in the calendar for Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican and some other churches. It is celebrated with Matins and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.

The history of this Feast Day is interesting. During the 11th century, disputes raged in Constantinople about which of the three hierarchs was the greatest. At the time, some preferred Saint Basil the Great (January 1). Others honoured Saint Gregory the Theologian (January 25). A third group exalted Saint John Chrysostom (November 13). Each was a highly influential Bishop of the early church who played a pivotal role in shaping Christian theology.

Dissension among Christians increased. Some called themselves Basilians, others called themselves Gregorians, and others Johnites.

By the will of God, the three hierarchs appeared to Saint John Mauropous, the Bishop of Euchaita in the year 1084 and said that they were equal before God.

“There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another.”

They ordered that the disputes should stop and that their common commemoration should be celebrated on a single day.

Bishop John chose January 30th for their joint Feast, thus ending the controversy and restoring peace.

An important day to recognise the imperative for the end of division and the restoration of peace.

[Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom are venerated as saints in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, and other Christian churches].

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Tim Costello on Social Cohesion

Antisemitism and Islamophobia are not the only things rupturing our communities

(published online on 18th January 2025, Sydney Morning Herald)

For the new year, I did something I had never done before. Rather than attend my own Protestant church, I went to a Catholic church on a Sunday morning. With the threats to social cohesion rivalling the cost of living as a defining national issue, I recognised the relative lack of opinion diversity in my own bubble. It was a small thing, but I still felt that I was crossing a line to embrace a different tribe.

That day, I worshipped in a diverse congregation made up of Caucasians like myself but also plenty of parishioners who appeared to have Indian, African, or Filipino heritage. The service was abuzz with social cohesion. The Nigerian-born priest preached a magnificent homily on how God only sees humans, not ethnicities, not skin colour. What followed were prayers for refugees, Israelis, Palestinians and Pope Francis.

Social cohesion is both a gift and a challenge. Building it requires risk, and maintaining it requires crossing lines.

We have become inured to our leaders’ words when a synagogue burns or is smeared with graffiti or when a pianist is cancelled after dedicating his recital to Palestinian victims in Gaza. We hear repetitive refrains that this is not the Australian way and this has no place here. We have become desensitised to racist rhetoric from all sides and the tragic continuing reports of innocent deaths. Most of us look away – even people like me who have been to Gaza avert our eyes from the conflict.

Hopefully, a tentative ceasefire will now bring an end to the carnage.

Rather than a good-faith public conversation, the debate has been driven by the political calculations around how one might benefit electorally from the rupture in social cohesion over Gaza. Conflict entrepreneurs politicise the conversation and then decry the breakdown in social cohesion.

For the first time in living memory, Australia’s Jewish and Muslim communities will largely vote as blocs based on Australian foreign policy. And they are being played to by our political class. Politics is driving the rupture in our communities, along with antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Peter Dutton has promised to ring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his first day as PM in the interests of social cohesion. However, he regularly refuses to mention Palestinians, even when praying for the situation, only mentioning Israelis.

The Greens continue to blame only Israel for the conflict in the region, refusing to acknowledge with any authenticity the evils of Hamas or the right for Israel to exist.

Meanwhile, the prime minister, wedged as he is, swings at both the Greens and the Coalition as he walks a tightrope – condemning antisemitism while calling for a ceasefire and the recognition of Palestine in order to progress a two-state solution.

Social cohesion is breaking down, but my trip to a Catholic church showed me that there can be hope. As I saw in church that day, it is not that Australians are subverting social cohesion in a vacuum. Rather, the politicisation of morality has been both embraced and toxified by our political system.

We need to reject the politicisation of suffering and cross the lines that have been drawn for us. Most of us agree that Hamas is not only barbaric but should never rule again. They should release the hostages, as they have reportedly pledged to do. And yes, they do use innocent Palestinians as human shields to protect Hamas fighters. But knowing this, we can still reasonably ask about the disproportionality of Israel killing so many human shields, particularly children.

One Jewish Australian Zionist texted me to say: “If criticism of the policies of Israel equals antisemitism, then there are a huge number of proud Jewish Zionists like me who are consigned to that category. It is appalling.”

We need Arab Australians to say they understand the existential fear of Australian Jews in the face of rising antisemitism. Equally, Australian Jews need to understand the immense suffering of Palestinians and the existential crisis for those still living in the occupied territories and with no path to hope. It is not either/or, but both/and.

Holding Israel to account for its actions is not antisemitism. Condemning Hamas to non-existence is not Islamophobic. A two-state solution is neither.

If we want to rebuild social cohesion, we must embrace nuance. And nuance requires more than what politicians seem capable of giving us.

Muslims and Jews on the ground are showing the way and crossing the line. I am so proud to be a patron of Project Rozana, made up of both Israeli Jews and Palestinian Muslims who, even in the conflict, have continued to work together to provide medical assistance in both Gaza and the West Bank. They retain their political views, but politics and politicians do not determine their actions. Human suffering that is ethnically and religiously blind in the conflict does, and they cross lines every day to help.

Let’s start crossing the “either/or” line of supporting only one side and assert justice for both. The conflict in Gaza is now one step closer to ending, but as Pope Paul VI said, “If you want peace, you must work for justice.”

Tim Costello is a senior fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity.

 

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Statements on Gaza ceasefire

Victorian Council of Churches statement on ceasefire.16 January 2025

NCCA

Melbourne Anglican

RCOA

Uniting Church in Australia